Preheating-tube.



No. 644,609. Patented Mar. 6, I900. A. KITSON.

PBEHEATING TUBE.

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No.'644,609. Patented Mar. 6, I900.

A KITSON PREHEATING TUBE.

(Application filed Mar 31, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORN EY UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

ARTHUR KITSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KITSONHYDROOARBON HEATING AND INOANDESCENTLIGHTING GOM- PANY, OF SAME PLACEAND CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

PREHEATING-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,609, dated March 6,1900.

Application filed March 31, 1899. Serial No. 711,218. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR KITsoN, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, and a resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPreheating- Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vapor-burning apparatus of the type in whichkerosene or other fluid hydrocarbon is vaporized by heat to form thevapor to supply the burner, and more spe rizing-tube 2 arrangedhorizontally overthe lamp-burner 3. The preheating apparatus consists ofa tube 4, arranged adjacent and parallel to the vaporizing-tube 2 andpreferably a little below and to one side of the same. Thispreheating-tube, as shown, is arranged for the use of alcohol, gasolene,or other volatile hydrocarbon and has the feeding-funnel 5 connectedthereto, through which feedingfunnel and connections the alcohol,gasolene, or other inflammable fluid or substance may be introduced. Inthe upper portion of the preheating-tube 4 and preferably to one side,

as shown in the drawings, there are one or more openings through whichthe vapor or the flame thereof may escape and impinge on thevaporizing-tube 2. To facilitate this, the opening is preferably placedon one side of the preheating-tube-to wit, on the side adjacent to thevaporizing-tube, as shown at 6and the said preheating-tube is placed alittle lower than the vaporizing-tube and to one side of the same, so asto facilitate this action and also to prevent it interfering with theheating of the vaporizing-tube by the burner of the lamp after the samehas gone into operation. These openings may be made in any one of avariety of ways; but I have shown a preferred method of forming one longopening or slit by cutting away a portion of the wall of the tube 4 andbending up said cutaway portion, so as to form a deflecting-shield, asshown at 7, to assist in forcing the vapor and flame over againstthetube 2.

It may also facilitate the actionof the apparatus to place a certainamount of fibrous asbestos 8 or other absorbent in combustible materialin the tube 4, and by extending the same up to the feeding-funnel 5, asshown at 9, the same will serve as a convenient means of igniting thealcohol in the tube 4.

The mode of operation of my invention is evident from the foregoingdescription. By pouring a measured quantity of alcohol into the funnel 5the same runs down into the tube 4 and saturates the wicking 8 and 9. Ontouching a match or other light to the portion of the wick 9 the flamewill run down into the preheating-tube 4 and ignite the vapor issuingtherefrom. The flame of this vapor will be deflected by thedeflecting-plate 7 ,located over said opening, and forced to play on thevaporizing-tube 2. By the time the al cohol or otherinflammable materialis burned up the tube 2 will be hot enough to vaporize oil admitted toit, and the vapor issuing from the burner 3 of the lamp will be ignitedand the action of the lamp become self-sup,- porting.

The advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity and convenienceand in the fact that all the heating action of the alcohol is availed ofin heating the vaporizing-tube, as

the flame is caused to impinge directly thereon. The alcohol being nearthe tube, there is less opportunity for loss of heat by radiation, as isthe case where the alcohol-cup is down near the burner, and the heatingeffect is concentrated and localized by the surrounding shield 10 of thevaporizing-tube 2. By reason of these facts a much less quantity ofalcohol will serve to heat the vaporizing-tube than is necessary Wherethe cup is down near the burner. Moreover, the apparatus is completclyhidden from view, and thus gives the lamp a more compact constructionand simple appearance.

Itis evident, of course,that various changes could be made in thedetails of construction illustrated without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention so long as the relative arrangement of partsshown in the drawings or the principle of operation described in thespecification is preserved. Difierent forms and lengths of tubing mightbe used and other forms of openings and deflectingplates. Thefeeding-funnel might be dispensed with or its location changed, but allthese I consider matters of form and not of substance, and all suchvariations I regard as still within the scope of my invention.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vaporizing apparatus the combination of the vaporizing-tube andthe preheating-tube arranged parallel and adjacent there to, saidpreheating-tube having an opening on the side adjacent to thevaporizing-tube, together with the deflecting-plate located over saidopening.

2. In a vaporizing apparatus the combination of a horizontalvaporizing-tube and an alcohol-tube arranged parallel thereto and alittle to one side of and below the vaporizingtube, said alcohol-tubehaving an opening in the side adjacent to the vaporizing-tube, togetherwith the feeding-funnel and its connections to the alcohol-tube, and thewicking of refractory and absorbent material in said alcohol-tube andconnections.

3. As an article of manufacture an alcoholtube havinga feeding-funnelconnected thereto, an opening'in the wall and a deflectingplate oversaid opening consisting of a cutaway portion of the wall of the tubebent outwardly over the openingleft by said cut-away portion.

4. As an article of manufacture apreheating-tube having a longitudinalopening in its wall and a deflecting-plate over said opening, consistingof a cutaway portion of the wall of the tube bent outwardly over theopening left by said cut-away portion.

Signed by me at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 28th day of March,1899.

ARTHUR KITSON.

Witnesses:

THos. K. OBER, J r., LoUIs R. BAKER.

